THE CROWN AND COMMONERS 13 



moners, to the extent of 10,000 acres, in addition 

 to the rights conferred by previous Acts, amount 

 ing to 6000 acres, with the right to throw out 

 lands when the woodlands upon them were 

 thought to be of an age when they were safe 

 from damage by cattle and to enclose the like 

 quantity from the open Forest, but so that the 

 area under enclosure should never exceed 16,000 

 acres at one time. 



At the time, this arrangement seemed to 

 satisfy all parties. The Crown gained a power 

 which practically in course of years would en- 

 able it to cover with timber the whole of the 

 Forest wherever the soil was sufficiently good 

 for that purpose. The commoners were protected 

 in so far that their cattle could never be ex- 

 cluded from more than 16,000 acres at one time. 

 And this safeguard appeared to content them at 

 the time if, indeed, contentment has ever been 

 known to that body. They looked forward to 

 enhanced profits by getting for their cattle the 

 whole of the feed which the deer to the number 

 generally of from 4000 to 6000 had hitherto 

 consumed. They also got their register, of im- 

 mense value to them, which settled all their 

 claims and gave them a statutory position. 



